hopping



March 6, 1945. J. E. HOPPING 7 2,370,730

I I TICKET PRINTING AND ISSUING MACHINE Filed Sept. 11, 1940 5 Sheets-Shet 2 INVENTOR J 1 m 8/11 101' jfo aja i12 ATTORNEY March 6, 19456 J. E. HOPPING TICKET PRINTING AND IS'SUING MACHINE Filed Sept. 11,, 1940 5 SheetsSheet 5 a [iv VENTOR fin? Efmer March 6, 1945. I J E, HOPHNG 2,370,730

TICKET PRINTING AND ISSUING MACHINE Filed Sept. 11, 1940 5 Sheets-:Sheet 4 w VENTOR A TTORNE Y March 1945.

TICKET PRINTING AND ISS Filed Sept. 11,

J. E. HOPPING 2,370,730 UING MACHINE;

1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 5 2 00 -01" DETACH 5 I0 I 02! W l mac n? GATE PASS HAND TO GATE I ATTENDANCE C 5 LU i RECORD I 1 g. 12. INVENTOR.

A TTORNEY Patented Mar. 6, 1945 TICKET FRINTING AND ISSUING MACHINE John Elmer Hopping, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to Central NationalBank of Cleveland, Cleveland, I

Ohio, as trustee Application September 11, 1940, S erial No. 356,363 Claims. (01. 192-.02)

This invention relates to a machine for printing an individual identifying number or symbol on a ticket, record sheet or the like. In the present instance the machine is intended to print an employees identifying number on a ticket, when he enters the plant, and to issue the ticket to the employee who delivers the same to aforeman or timekeeper for use in compiling the payroll. It will be obvious, however, that the invention may be embodied in machines used for various purposes where it is desirable that a'printed record shall bear a number or other designation identifying an individual.

One object of the invention is toprovi-de such a machine which is controlled by the insertion of an identifying check'orthe like. Y

A further object of the invention is to provide sucha machine in which the identifying number may be printed on on the check.

A further object of the invention such a machine, the operation of which will be initiated-by the insertion of the check and will be automatically interrupted when the ticket has been printed and issued.

such a machine having means for positively preventing the operation of themachine, either by motor or manually, until a check has been'inserted in printing position. v

A furtherobject of the invention is to provide such a machine having improved mechanism for taking impressions both from the check and from other data printing type upon tion thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a machine which will print on a continuous web of paper and which has improved means for severing the printed portion of the web;

Other objects of the invention may appearas the mechanism is described in detail.

a ticket from type or the like each opera- A further object of the invention'is to provide In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a machine embodying the invention, showing the rear side of the cabinet; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the frontside ofithe cabinet; Fig. 3 is a front elevation, partly broken away, of the mechanism which is contained within the cabinet; Fig. 4 is a section taken on the g a, is to provide Fig. 8 is a detail view of theswitch; Fig. 915 a perspective view of one of the checks'used in operating the machine; Fig. 10 is a section taken on the line I6 l6 of Fig. 9, on an enlarged scale; Fig. 11 is a front elevation, partly broken away, of the chute, on an enlarged scale; and Fig. 12 is a facsimile ofa ticket printed by the machine; Fig. 13 is a perspective view of an emergency crank. I I I In these drawings I haveillustrated one embodiment of my invention and have shown the same as designed for printing a workmansidentifying number on a ticket which is to be issued to him. It will be understood, howeveifi that the machine, either with or without modification,

maybe used for various purposes and that the mechanism'may take various forms.

In this embodiment of the invention the mechanism, which is enclosedin the cabinet 20, comprises a main frame including side members 21 and 22 and a supplemental motor frame 23', a portion only of which is shown in Fig. 3', The main part of th mechanism is. supported by the frame members 2| and 22,'and. the motor,lthe casing of which is shown at 24, is mounted on v a supplemental frame 23 and is provided with a driving shaft 25 which projects beyond the supplemental frame member 23 and has its outer end portion 25 slotted for interlocking engagement with a shaft on the main frame. The shaft 25 may be the armature'shaft of the motor or it may be ashaft driven by the motor. In the present arrangement the motor shaft 25 has interlocking engagement with the adjacent end of a shaft 25 mounted on the mainframe member 22 and which, in the present instance, isa short or stud shaft. A gear 21, Fig.5, is secured to the shaft 26 and meshes with a gear 28 which is rigidly secured to a shaft 29 from which arev I will be hereinafter described.

. In the present instance a ticket is printed on and severed from a webof paper 30 which is taken from a roll 3| and passed. about a guide rod 32 to a feeding device which comprises a shaft 33, Fig. 4, having secured-thereto an electroplate 35 adapted to print on the ticket-certain data operates various parts of the mechanism which which is common to all tickets issued, and also having parts which cooperate with a roller 3t which, in the present instance, constitutes both a feed roller and an impression rollersto take an impression from the electroplate 35 on the web of paper.

Mounted above theelectropl'ate 35-is an ink roller 38, the shaft 39 of which is pressed against the electroplate by spring pressed beanv position of the ink roller with relation to the electroplate. The feeding device may be actuated in any suitable manner and in the present arrangement a shaft 33 is connected by suitable gearing, not shown, with the roller 36 and also has secured thereto a gear 45 which meshes with a gear 46 mounted on a stud 4? carried by the frame member 22. The gear 46 is arranged to be engaged and actuated by a gear 48 secured to the shaft 29, Fig. 5. In the present instance this gear 48 is shown as a sector gear and is arranged to actuate the feeding device in timed relation to the printing mechanism, to be hereinafter described. The teeth of the gear 46 extend across the edge of a disk 49, rigidly secured to the shaft 28, and one tooth of gear 46 is partially cut away (Fig. 6) to receive the edge of the disk and to lock the gear, and therefore the feeding mechanism, normally against operation, the periphery of the disk being cut adjacent the teeth of the sector gear 48, as shown at 49a, to release the gear 46 for rotation by the sector gear. The present ticket is-weakened along a median line, as by perforations, so that it can be divided into two parts after having been issued. To enable this to be done the electroplate is divided into two parts and a serrated wheel 235 is interposed between those parts to perforate the web as it moves between the impression roller and the electroplate, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The feeding device is arranged adjacent the rear or discharge side of the machine and mounted in the front portion of the machine is a chute 50 through which there may be inserted in the machine a check or the like having on one face thereof type identifying the holder of the check. This check may be of any suitable character and as shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11 it is in the form of a flat plate having on its lower side near one end thereof type faces 52, preferably formed by stamping or embossing the numbers on the check so that they will project beyond the lower surface thereof. In the present check the number is in two parts, the first part designating the department in which the employee works and the second part being the number which the workman has been assigned in that department. The lateral edge portions of the check and that end thereof opposite the number are provided with a bead or shallow rib 53 which is preferably formed by bending edge portions of the check onto the body thereof. The chute 50 is in the present instance formed in two parts, the inner portion being rigidly mounted on the main frame and the outer portion being carried by the cabinet 20. As here shown, the chute is provided with a substantially horizontal slot 54, adapted to receive the check, the upper wall of the slot having at its lateral edges grooves 55 to receive the lateral portions of the bead on the check and the lower wall of the slot having its intermediate portion depressed or recessed, as shown at 56, to provide clearance for the type on the check. The check is of such length that when fully inserted in the chute, that is, when the transverse or outer portion of the head 53 contacts with the end of the chute, the type 52 will extend beyond the lower portion of the chute, as shown in Fig. 4, and will be in printing position, the upper portion of the chute extending beyond the lower portion thereof to firmly support the check in printing position. The inner portion of the chute is provided at one side thereof with a slot 5'! through which extends an arm 58 rigidly secured to a shaft 59,

ings 46. Cams 4| on the shaft 33 control the the lower portion of the am being arranged in the path of a check inserted in the chute so as to be actuated thereby to control the operation of the various parts of the machine, as will be hereinafter described.

It is frequently desirable toprint on the ticket other data with which the check number is associated and the present machine is provided with means for printing the date on the ticket, as shown in Fig. 12. The date printing mechanism may be of any suitable character, and, a here shown, it comprises a plurality of type wheels 6! and 64, mounted on a rod 60, which are of a known character and may be set by the usual or any suitable means. The type wheels 6i and 64 are arranged adjacent to the printing position of the check type 52 and, in the present instance, lie between the shaft and the electroplate 35.

An impression may be taken from the type on the check and on the date wheels in any suitable manner. The means for taking this impression is not a part of the invention herein claimed and need not be described in detail. Briefly it comprises a printer frame 68 pivotally mounted on the shaft 69 and provided with an impression roller 12 and an ink roller 14 arranged to be moved across the type faces by the oscillation of the printer frame. The printer frame is actuated by the shaft 29, preferably through pitman and crank connections, one of which is shown at H and 1B in Fig. 5. The web of paper on which the impression is to be taken extends from the guide rod 32 about the impression roller 12 on its way to the feeding devices, which, when stationary, hold the end of the web against movement. When the printer frame moves clockwise about the axis of the shaft 69 the rollers are moved across the type faces and the paper is carried along with the impression roller and brought successively into contact with the type on the date wheels and on the check to take an impression therefrom, and are then restored to their initial positions.

After the impression has been taken the web 30 is advanced by the feeding device so as to move 45 the printed portion thereof to a position to be severed from the web and issued as a ticket. In the present instance the end portion of the Web is fed into a discharge chute 9! and is positioned to be engaged by a severing device which, as here shown, comprises a plate 92 having an opening 93a through which the web passes. Mounted on this plate 92 for transverse sliding movement with relation thereto is a blade 93 which is actuated by bell cranks each having a part 99 engaging the blade and a part I66 in the path of a cam 10! on the shaft 29, the cams being so arranged that they will actuate the blade and sever the ticket at the end of the web feeding operation.

The shaft 29 makes one complete rotation upon each operation of the machine and during that rotation actuates the printer, the web feeding device and the ticket severing device in rapid succession. The shaft 29 is driven by the motor 24 through shafts 25 and 26 and gears 21 and 28, and the operation of the motor is controlled by and preferably initiated by the insertion of a check 5] in the chute 50. This control may be effected in various ways and, in the present instance, means are provided for controlling the operation of the motor switch, this switch being preferably held normally in its open position by means which can be released only by the insertion of a check. The switch is shown at I65 in Fig. 8 and the movable member H36 thereof is of resilient material normally biased to circuit closing mally in switch opening position by the checkcontrolled means. In the'present' arrangement the lever I'I is provided with a finger I03 which extends through a slot- H0 in the supplemental frame member 23. A bell crank lever I II is pivotally mounted at H2 on the outer side of the frame member 23, that is, the side adjacent the main frame. One arm, N3, of this lever is provided near its lower end with a shoulder H4 adapted to be engaged beneath the finger I03 of the controlling member I01 and the other arm H5 is acted upon by a spring H6 which urges the shoulder II4 toward and retalnsthe same in aposition to have supporting engagement with the finger of the controlling member I01, thus retaining the same in circuit opening position against the action of the spring I 08. The arm II5-of the lever III has in its lower edge a recess "1 provided with a cam-shaped end wall and adapted to receive a stud H8 carried by an arm H3 which is pivoted at its lower end on a stud I20. When the arm H9 is in its normal position the stud H8 extends into the recess and the shoulder H4 is held in its operative position with relation to the controlling member I01. The shaft 59 which carries the check actuated arm 58 has secured thereto for movement therewith a downwardly extending arm IN, the lower end of which is slotted at I22 to receive a stud I23 on the arm H9 and cause that arm to be moved in such a. direction that the stud I I8 willact on the cam surface of the recess Ill to cam the shoulder H4 out of engagement with the controlling member I01 and permit the latter to move to switch closing position, thus starting the motor and initiating the operation of the machine. The swtich controlling member I01 is provided with a tail portion I24 having a nose I25 so arranged that the movement of the control member I01 to switch closing position will move the nose I25 into the path of a. cam I26 rig dly securedto and rotating with the motor driven shaft 25, which rotates in the'direction of the arrow in Fig. 6. Thus just before the shaft 25 completes a single rotation'the cam I26 will act on the control member I01 to again move the same to switch opening position.

If the check has been removed from the chute to permit the lever actuating. arm IIQ to return to its normal position before the control member I01 returns to its switch openingposition, the lower. end of the arm H3 or the bell crankwill have been moved into the path of the finger I03 so as to be engaged thereby as the controlling member I01 moves to switch opening position, thus retracting the arm I I3 until the finger has passed the same, and the shoulder I I4 then snaps into supporting engagement with the finger. However, these several operations take place very quicklyand it will frequently happen that the check will not be: removed from the chute before the switch controlling member is returned to switch opening position. I have therefore provided means for preventing. the switch controlling member from. again moving to switch closil'lg position after it has been moved to switch opening position and released by the cam I26 on the operating shalt. For this purpose a second bell crank lever I21 is pivotally mounted on an axis coincident with the axisof the bell crank H I and is provided at its lower endwlth a beveled nose I28,- the upper edge of which forms a shoulder I23. The other arm I30 of this bell-crank lever is, acted upon by a spring I-3 I which tends to move the shoulder I28 into the path or the finger I03 of the controlling member I01. However, this movement of the lever I21 is normally prevented by the contact of the stud IIB on the arm I I9 with a cam surface I32 on the lower edge of the arm I30 of the bell crank I2 1, so that'so long as the actuating arm H9 is in its-normal sition the bell crank I21 and its shoulder I29 are inoperative. The movement of the actuating arm H9, by the insertion of a check, to retract the bell.

crank lever III and release the controlling member I01 will also release the bell crank lever I21 and. permit the nose I28 thereof to be moved toward the path of the finger- I09, The shoulder I23 of hell crank I21 is slightly higher than. the shoulder II4 of bell crank III. Consequently the shoulder I29 cannot move into its operative position until the controlling member III! has moved past the same. -It will then assume a positionin the pathof the finger I09 and when the latter is again moved upwardly to switch opening position it will engage the nose I28, and the nose will be retracted'thereby'and will then spring into operative engagement therewith. Thus the shoulder I29 will retain the switch controlling member in switch opening position until the check has been withdrawn 2 from the chute, and the actuating member I- IBreturned to normal position to release the be-llcrank II I and permit the shoulder M4 to move'into retaining position with relation to the switch controlling member.

The :toregoing mechanism'positively controls the operation of "the machine by the motor but the machine may be actuatedmanually in the event no -current is available for operating the motor. For this purpose there is provided a crank I33, Fig. 13, having a socket portion I34 adapted to be inserted through an opening. I35 in the cabinet and to operatively engage the outer end'of the shaft 25 in a well known mannor, the point of engagement not, being here shown. In order to prevent the manual operation of the machine until a check has been properly inserted, means are provided to normally prevent t e'Operation. of theshaft 25 and to release the same by the check controlled mechanism. For that purpose the shaft 25 is in the present instance formed in. two parts, the outer part having the cam I26 secured thereto and also having. secured thereto a disk I36. Mounted on the other part or the shaft, indicated'in'Fig. 7 as 25a, is a ratchet wheel I31. adapted to be. engaged by a pawl I38 pivotally mounted on the disk I36 and urged toward engagement with the ratchet wheel by spring I39. The pawl I38 has a tail portion I40 arranged in the path of an arcuate arm. I4I pivot.- ally mounted on the disk I36 at I'4I'0; and having at its opposite end a nose I42, the outer portion of which is adapted to be engaged byia lug I43 on. a lever I44, the inner edge of the nose I 42 bearing against the tail I40 of the pawl I38 and acting thereon in a direction to disengage said pawl from the ratchet wheel. The lug I43 is carried by a part I45 slidably mounted. on the arm I44 and urged downwardly by a spring I46.

A stud I41 carried by the arm I 44 extends through a slot I48 in the switch controlling member I01 and isacted upon by a spring I43 which tends to move the arm toward the disk 436. When theswitch controlling member I! is m switch opening position the stud in will lie in engagement with or close to the end of theslot I48 and the spring I49 willhold the switch controlling member] 0! is moved to switch closing position it will actuate the arm'I44 to move the lug I43 out of engagement with the nose I42, thereby releasing the pawl I 38 and permitting it to be moved by the spring I39 into operative engagement with the ratchet wheel I3I to establish an operative connection between the two parts of the shaft. The next movement of the switch controlling member to switch opening position again moves the lug I43 into the path of the nose I42 on arm I4I so that it will be engaged by the latter at the end of a complete rotation of the shaft and will cause the pawl to be disengaged from the ratchet wheel.

An electric lamp is arranged within th fixture I80, Fig. 2, to illuminate the receiving end of the chute and the circuit for this lamp is controlled by a switch I8I.. When the machine is so located that it is exposed to low temperatures it is also desirable to provide the same with a heater and a switch I82 controls the circuit for this heater.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

1. Mechanism for controlling the operation of the actuating means for a device the operation of which is initiated by the insertion of a check, said mechanism comprisinga controlling member movable to a position to permit the operation of said actuating means or to a position to prevent such operation and biased to operation permitting position, means controlled by said actuating means for moving said controlling member to said operation preventing position, a lever having a part to engage said controlling member and retain the same in said operation preventing position, means to yieldably hold said lever in retaining engagement with said controlling member, a member pivo-tally mounted on a fixed support and having a part spaced from its pivotal axis'to engage said lever with a cam action and move the same out of retaining engagement with said controlling member and thereby release said controlling member for movement to operation permitting position, a second member pivotally mounted on a fixed support and operatively connected with said releasing member, and check controlled means to actuate said second pivotal member and release said controlling member upon the insertion of a check.

2. Mechanism for controlling the operation of a device to be operated and including a controlling member movable to a position to permit the operation of said device or to a position to pre- .vent such operation and biased to said operation permitting position, means to move said controlling member to operation preventing position at theend of a predetermined operation of said device to be operated, a lever pivotally mounted between its-ends on a fixed support, having on one side of its pivotal axis a part to engage said controlling member and retain the same in operation preventing position and having on the other side of said axis a cam surface, a member pivotally mounted on a fixed support and having a part spaced from its axis to engage said cam surface and move said lever out of retaining engagement with said controlling member to permit the latter to move to operation permitting position, and an actuating member mounted separately from and operatively connected with said releasing member.

3. Mechanism for controlling the operation of a device to be operated including a member movable to a position to permit the operation of the device and to a position to prevent said operation, a movable element having a part to. engage said controlling member and retain the same in said operation preventing position, means for holding said movable element in engagement with said controlling member, a second movable element having a part adapted to have retaining engagement with said controlling member and biased toward retaining position, controlling means for said movable elements arranged to hold said second movable element normally in an inoperative position, means to actuate said element controlling means to move the first mentioned movable element to an inoperative position, thereby ermitting said controlling member to move to operation pennitting po sition,- and to release said second element for movement to an operative position in which said part thereof will have retaining engagement with said controlling member when the latter is returned to its operation preventing position, and means for returning said controlling member to said operation preventing position at the end of a predetermined movement of said device to be operated.

4. Mechanism for controlling the operation of the actuating means for a device to be operated, including a controlling member movable to a position to permit the operation of said device or to a position to prevent said operation and biased to operation permitting position, a lever having a part to engage said controlling member and retain the same in operation preventing position, yieldable means for holding said lever in engagement with said controlling member, a second lever havin an inclined surface and a part adapted to have retaining engagement with said controlling member and biased toward retaining position, a controlling device for said levers arranged to hold said second lever normally in an inoperative position, means to operate said lever controlling device to move the first mentioned lever to an inoperative position, and thus release said controlling member for movement to operation permitting position, and to release said second lever for movement to a position in which its inclined surface is in the path of said controlling member when the latter is returned to operation preventing position, and means for returning said controlling member to operation preventing position at the end of a predetermined movement of said device to be operated.

5. Mechanism for controlling the operation of the actuating means for a device to be operated,

including a controlling member movable toaposition to permit the operation of said deyic'e or to a position to prevent said operation and biased to operation permitting position, two levers pivotally mounted on a common axis and each having near one end thereof "a shoulder tofengage the lower. edge of said controlling member and retain the latter in operation preventing position, yieldable means for urging said levers to retaining positions, each lever having a am surface, an operable device cooperatingi, h said cam surfaces to control the positions of :said levers and so arranged that when in its normal position one of said levers will be in retaining engagement with said controlling member and the other lever will be in a retracted position with its shoulder slightly higher than the shoulder of the first mentioned lever, means to actuate said operable device to retract the first mentioned lever and permit said controlling member to move to operation permitting position and to release the last mentioned lever for movement into the path of said controlling member after the latter has passed the same, and means controlled by said actuating means to return said controlling member to operation preventing position thereby causing the last mentioned lever to snap into engagement with said controlling member and support the same until said operable device is l restored to its normal position.

JOHN HOPPING. 

